Veterans in Alabama sometimes have to wait more than two years to have benefit appeals resolved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Bachus wrote that the benefit claims backlog facing veterans nationwide is causing veterans to face growing debt or postpone plans to pursue college education.

In that letter, Bachus wrote that his office had been contacted by a veteran awaiting review of an appeal certified Aug. 16. 2010 and that the appeals backlog in Alabama can last as long as 893 days. Bachus asked that the department outline what steps are being taken to reduce that backlog.

"Our veterans made a commitment to us, and we must keep our commitment to them," Bachus wrote.

"In my district and across the country, these delays are forcing veterans into credit card debt, student loans at higher interest rates, and even choosing between going to school or meeting their daily living expenses. The uncertainty of this situation has also affected colleges and universities, many of whom have tried to accommodate veterans by accepting them for classes without the customary advance payment," the letter continued.

In that speech, Shinseki said the backlog growth was predictable, noting that 12 conditions for disability benefits had been added to VA's benefit list since 2009 and post-traumatic stress disorder has been made verifiable for all combat veterans, not only those who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"We will have processed nearly 4 million claims (since 2009) by the end of this year," Shinseki added. "So when people talk about the 580,000 compensation claims which are backlogged today, they're not talking about claims that were here three and a half years ago .... The backlog is real, but no one is standing at parade rest."

"The only way you're going to get that backlog taken care of is to hire more people," Koutz said. "And they've got to do the claims more accurately. When they come back (from VA), the first thing we see is mistakes, and then that claim goes back to the regional office, and we're starting all over again from Step 1. Eric Shinseki said he'd like to see a 98-percent accuracy. If we get to that number, I think you'll see the backlog of claims reduced."